Vandermaelen was the son of a wealthy industrialist who abandoned his father's business to follow a career in cartography. His goal was to produce the first atlas ever published in which every map was drawn on the same projection and to the same scale (1: 1,641,836), with each map covering an area of approximately 20 degrees of longitude (from Paris) and 6 degrees of latitude. Because of the consistent scale and projection, the maps could be joined together to form a huge globe that would measure over 25 feet in diameter. Vandermaelen had the only known globe constructed from his maps, requiring a special room for its display. It was also the first lithographic atlas ever published. There was one edition of the atlas, published in 1825-27, and the subscription list shows that only 810 copies were sold. Koeman called his Atlas Universel, "One of the most remarkable world atlases ever made. Far ahead of its time."

Two detailed map showing the parts of the Northwest Territories (Great Slave Lake) and the northern parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan (Lake Athabasca). The maps are filled with information compiled for fur traders and early explorers.

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Condition: B+

There are some light spots and toning in the maps with a few minor tears in the blank margins. The bottom centerfold on No. 25 is separated into the map border and has a tear in lower left margin entering the border.